Awarded to recognize extraordinary contributions by an Arizona Attorney in making legal services available to persons who otherwise could not afford them, and thereby to focus public awareness on the substantial voluntary services by Arizona attorneys in this area. Renamed in 2000 to honor the memory of William E. Morris, a long-time attorney for the poor in Arizona.

Nominations are due March 1st and are to include the individual's name; firm if applicable; address & other contact information; the award for which they are being nominated and contact information of the nominators; a summary of their characteristics, experiences, and service that qualifies them for the award; and support letters from others may be included. The nomination packets should be sent to The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, ATTN: Kevin S. Ruegg, 4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 210, Phoenix, AZ 85016 or email to [email protected].

Awards Acknowledged in conjunction with the Foundation participation in the annual Arizona State Bar Convention.

Since 1994, Ms. Goldman has handled 66 full, direct representation immigration cases for Southern Arizona Legal Aid.  Many of these cases took years (if not a decades) to complete.  In her legal career, Ms. Goldman has focused her practice on immigration law. She appreciates that she has a very special connection to her practice, as she is an immigrant herself. Her parents were both survivors of the Holocaust (her mother survived Auschwitz), and both were the sole survivors of their respective families. Ms. Goldman was born in Germany after the war, and she came to America as a refugee at only six months old. As she phrased it, the United States gave her family a home when they needed one. Many of Ms. Goldman’s clients come from countries where there are governmental oppositions occurring, and people are in unsafe environments. She recognizes that she shares a commonality with her clients because she too has been helped.

Ms. Lustman retired in 2007 and moved to Tucson with her husband.  That's when she started her second career of volunteering!  She began volunteering with the Attorney General’s office in Pima County. In 2010, Ms. Lustman was volunteering with the Volunteer Lawyers Program at SALA. In order to meet the needs of the program, Ms. Lustman committed to learn an entirely new area of law – domestic relations.

For 13 years, Ms. Lustman has been a dedicated volunteer assisting those in need in our community with divorce, paternity and custody issues. She has hosted 423 clinics to date and served 1,872 clients for a total of 1187 hours.

Ms. Lustman is also a member of the Advisory Committee for VLP and teaches the informative divorce classes to VLP clients. Ms. Lustman’s direct work with clients fills an incredible need in the community. Ms. Lustman’s wisdom, legal knowledge, and practicality make her an asset to VLP’s leadership as well!

Hon. James L. Conlogue started his career as a correctional officer at the Southern Arizona Correctional Release Center.  He utilized the ADOC's tuition assistance program to get his MPA and eventually his JD from the University of Arizona.

After working at the Department of Navy in Washington D.C., Judge Conlogue came back to Arizona to practice law.  He served as a judge pro tempore starting in 1994 and was appointed as a judge to the Cochise County Superior Court in 2007.

Since retiring, he has dedicated his time and expertise as a volunteer with Southern Arizona Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Program. His  volunteer work centers around the family law clinics and classes, where he is one of the most active volunteers. In addition to his volunteer work with clients, he was  appointed to the Board of Directors for Southern Arizona Legal Aid and also serves on the Advisory Committee for their Volunteer Lawyers Program. 

 

Nancy Anger began actively volunteering with Community Legal Services Volunteer Lawyer Program after her retirement in 2017, volunteering almost every week.  She was quickly respected by staff and other volunteers for her legal expertise in consumer matters, her interviewing skills and for being an effective negotiator.   Ms. Anger is sought out by staff when a client interview is needed with complex facts, as she is able to quickly gain a rapport and trust, listens attentively and gains all the necessary facts needed for the case.

 VLP staff describe Nancy as “always going the extra mile” as she often does far more than the brief help that is expected.  She makes immediate calls to help solve problems for clients. She often agrees to investigate or advocate – sometimes helping for months. She will often follow up with clients she has advised to see how they are progressing or if they need additional help.  

In 2019, Nancy assisted 88 families with legal needs and in 2020 she helped 99 clients donating over 150 hours of her time and expertise.  Roni Tropper, VLP staff, stated, “Nancy always does everything she can to help a person.  Even if the client might not have a strong legal claim, Nancy usually can find a way to advocate to help make the person’s life better.  She is beyond compassionate and just an all-around lovely human.”

Karen Nygaard has been volunteering to assist low income individuals with civil legal issues for decades.  She spent years with Southern Arizona Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyer Program as a highly effective volunteer advocate and demonstrated a genuine interest in helping those most in need.

When she was appointed to the Pima County Superior Court bench, she continued to assist the SALA’s VLP by joining the advisory board, leading continuing legal education seminars and helping recognize other outstanding volunteers. 

She most recently became a founding member of Step Up to Justice where she serves on the board and finance/compliance work group.

Ms. Nygaard has also volunteered for many years with Child & Family Resources including being Chair of their board. She worked with the Family Law Court in Pima County to start clinics at the courthouse and assisted in revising forms to make them more comprehensible to the general public.

Karen has made volunteering and supporting access to justice a central part of her 40 year career and continues to make her expertise available to those in need.

2019
Sesaly Stamps

2018
Nancy Tribbensee

2017
Lee Bennett

2016
Denice Shepherd

2015
Skip Skinner

2014
Katherine McLeod

2013

Stanley Friedman

2012

Rob Ferrier

2011

Ben Smith

2010

David Sanderson

2009

Dean Christoffel

2008

Debra Hill

2007

Cary Inabinet

2006
Tom Roberts

2005
Scott Gan

2004
David Engelman

2003
Pamela Liberty

2002
Alyce Pennington

2001
Luis Ochoa

2000
Steven Cox

1999
Wayne Yehling

1998
Stephen Anderson
& Roy Petty
& Michael McGrath

1997
Christina Urias

1996
Philip (Jay) McCarthy, Jr.

1995
Michael J. Tucker

1994
Dianne C. Kerns (Sole Practitioner)
Robert E. Miles

1993
Hon. Robert W. Pickrell (Sole Practitioner)
Thomas M. Ryan

1992
Rev. David A. Meyers

1991
Lawrence A. Hammond

1990
Nancy M. Coomer

1989
John A. Greene

1988
William T. Birmingham

1987
Ted F. Warner